NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: NPS, Industry Research Leads to First in Persistent, Ocean Acoustic Data Collection Technology

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    MONTEREY, Calif.  –  

    The team’s successful development of an innovative, self-powered autonomous underwater drone, known as the Persistent Smart Acoustic Profiler (PSAP) Voyager, has already delivered large swaths of oceanographic and passive acoustic data primed for NPS student research since it was deployed for the first time off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, in early November of 2024

    Naval forces have an inherent operational reason to be quiet and stealthy at sea. Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Joseph, a researcher in the NPS Department of Oceanography and principal investigator on the project, said the effort has been funded by the school’s Consortium for Unmanned Systems Education and Research (CRUSER), which is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.

    “PSAP started as a CRUSER project a few years ago when Yi Chao, Seatrec CEO and a well-known oceanographer, gave a talk at NPS about their energy-harvesting system,” said Joseph, who recognized an opportunity to combine the school’s expertise in undersea acoustics and research instrumentation with Seatrec’s innovative energy harvesting technology.

    NPS excels at conducting applied research in the operating environment. For the first time, PSAP offers an ability to collect and send oceanographic and passive acoustic monitoring data in near real-time for an unlimited period, thanks to the profiler’s ability to harvest energy from the temperature differences in the ocean, enough to fully power the instrumentation indefinitely.

    “Theoretically, PSAP can be deployed once, communicate its acoustic information to remote operators in near real time for limitless periods without requiring retrieval to offload data, refreshment – such as swapping batteries or data storage, or replacement,” explained Joseph. “These characteristics greatly reduce lifecycle costs of a continuous acoustic monitoring effort.”

    Empowering student research and discovery is central to the institution’s efforts with industry partners, and the PSAP Voyager’s ongoing operational test – which can be monitored via the Seatrec website – has provided a trove of data for potential research.

    “Now that we have a sizable amount of oceanographic and acoustic data collected by PSAP, we plan to have students in the undersea warfare and meteorology and oceanography curricula to use these data for thesis research,” said Joseph.

    The role of acoustic sensing in Naval operations is far-reaching and fundamental to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations at sea, including undersea sensing and detection.

    “Passive acoustic listening has many operational and research applications in the Navy, and our students at NPS conduct applied research to meet naval-unique needs for at-sea operations that require measurements of ambient noise, understanding the composition of soundscapes and monitoring of marine mammals,” said Joseph. The autonomy and endurance of the PSAP Voyager “provides an unprecedented opportunity to collect acoustic data in real-time for very long periods in remote areas without the expense and logistical tail of ship support.”

    “Sound is used to ‘see’ underwater and is vital to understanding the ocean and monitoring the movement of natural and man-made objects,” added Yi Chao, Ph.D., Seatrec’s CEO and Founder in a recent news release. “Previously, hydrophones required power from expensive underwater cables from shore or ships but our PSAP Voyager untethers hydrophones and provides nearly unlimited persistent monitoring of the ocean in an extremely economical way.”

    While the technology promises to be useful for improving maritime domain awareness, it will also enhance U.S. naval oceanographic models for operational planning used to improve own-force sonar system performance.

    (This news story does not constitute an endorsement of Seatrec or its products and services by the Naval Postgraduate School, the Department of the Navy, or the Department of Defense.)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guardsmen Take On Operation Deep Freeze

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand  –  

    The 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” from the Nevada Air National Guard achieved a historic first by participating in Operation Deep Freeze.

    The High Rollers supported the annual U.S. military mission in Antarctica by flying augmented max duty day missions, logging over 30 hours in three days in December. The operation challenges the U.S. military with Antarctica’s extreme and unpredictable environment— the coldest, windiest and most inhospitable continent on Earth.

    Rapidly changing weather conditions immediately confronted the High Rollers, operating out of Christchurch, delaying their inaugural mission until Dec. 18. Despite the setbacks, the team maintained readiness and transported 39 passengers and vital cargo to McMurdo Station in Antarctica aboard their C-130 Hercules aircraft. Their efforts provided significant relief to the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron of the New York Air National Guard, which has handled the bulk of ODF missions for decades.

    The 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron uses LC-130 aircraft equipped with skis, enabling landings on ice and snow. The unit manages the north-south resupply runs between Christchurch and McMurdo Station and intra-Antarctic missions, including deliveries to remote research stations and the South Pole. This demanding workload has heavily strained their fleet and personnel.

    “We are so happy to see you guys here,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dave Ricks, the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron’s superintendent. “We really appreciate the help that the High Rollers are providing.”

    A C-17 unit from Washington state supports north-south missions during the winter months. However, during the summer, warmer temperatures render the runways too slushy for C-17s to land.

    The High Rollers’ deployment to Operation Deep Freeze strengthens partnerships within the Air National Guard and reduces the operational burden on individual units. Col. Catherine Grush, 152nd Airlift Wing commander, highlighted the collaboration’s importance.

    “It is my hope that we can make this an enduring partnership with the New York Air National Guard and the National Science Foundation,” Grush said. “We are excited to help out and provide whatever support is needed from us.”

    The High Rollers brought fresh resources and enthusiasm to the mission, marking an important step in building capacity and resilience within the U.S. military’s Antarctic operations. Their success highlights the value of joint efforts in tackling the logistical and environmental challenges of operating at the bottom of the world.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command and Japan launch First Bilateral Space Effort

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KAGOSHIMA, Japan  –  

    A U.S. space domain awareness payload hosted on Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite 6 (QZS-6) successfully launched on a Japanese H-3 launch vehicle from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) in Japan on February 2, 2025. This is the first bilateral U.S. Japan cooperative space effort focused on national security, and the first of two launches as part of the JAXA Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP) program.

    The satellite will be operated by Space Operations Command’s (SpOC) Mission Delta 2 (MD 2), which conducts Space Domain Awareness operations to identify, characterize, and exploit opportunities and mitigate vulnerabilities in the national security space terrain on behalf of the U.S. Space Force (USSF) and U.S. Space Command. The satellite will deliver near real time data to the Space Surveillance Network bolstering the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) understanding of the Geosynchronous Orbit regime above the Indo-Pacific region.

    “This launch is a historic milestone for the U.S.-Japan alliance,” said USSF Col. Bryon McClain, program executive officer for Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power. “In an increasingly contested space domain, Japan’s contribution to the U.S. DoD’s deterrence strategy has been, and will continue to be, key to INDOPACOM awareness and operations. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Japan on space modernization, data sharing, satellite communications, and more.”

    “Congratulations to both nations on this achievement. Mission Delta 2 is honored to operate these payloads as they get on orbit on behalf of the USSF. These sensors will support the fusion of space- and ground-based Space Domain Awareness to further reinforce all-domain collective defense with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” explained USSF Col. Raj Agrawal, commander or SpOC’s Mission Delta 2.

    “I’m proud of the team for this achievement as the first launch in this first-ever bilateral collaboration,” said CMSgt. Jacqueline Sauve,’ SSC’s senior enlisted leader, who was on-site at TNSC for the launch. “This mission is just the beginning of what we can accomplish together with allies and partners.”

    The QZSS-HP program encompasses the integration, launch, and operations of two U.S. payloads hosted on Japanese satellites. In preparation for launch, USSF and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) teams have worked side-by-side with the NSPS and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) teams in Japan over the past two years to integrate and test the first hosted payload alongside its Japanese QZS-6 host.

    Both U.S. payloads for this mission were designed and built by MIT/LL in Lexington, MA. The Japanese host Quasi-Zenith Satellites were designed and built by MELCO in Kamakura, Japan to augment the U.S. global positioning system (GPS) capabilities in the region. QZSS-HP utilizes the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center/Enterprise Command and Control – Schriever (MMSOC/EC2-S) enclave located in Colorado.

    “A key component to ensuring the success of the QZSS-HP mission is the ground infrastructure,” said USSF Col. Joe Roth, director of SSC’s Innovation and Prototyping Acquisition Delta. “Ensuring the ground piece exceeds expectation paves the way for continued successful partnership opportunities with our Asia-Pacific allies.”

    The strategic partnership between the USSF and Japan’s National Space Policy Secretariat (NSPS) originated through a December 2020 international agreement to jointly execute the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP) program. The mission’s second payload aboard QZS-7 is on track for launch in early FY2026.

    Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.

    Space Operations Command is the service force provider, focused on generating combat-ready Space forces, sourcing and providing forces for service and combatant commands, and advocating for combat-ready space power from future force to fielded force.

    Mission Delta 2 is the Space Force’s lead Delta for application of Space Domain Awareness to achieve our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space.

    Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding SSC by sending an e-mail to sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil

    Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding SpOC and MD 2 by sending an e-mail to spoc.pa.media@spaceforce.mil

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Sexual Assault of a Child Suspect

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Dallas, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service – North Texas Fugitive Task Force apprehended in Roanoke Jan. 28 a man wanted by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office for sexual assault of a child and by the USMS for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

    Joe Tarin, 30, who had been on the run for three years, made his initial appearance at the Tarrant County Courthouse Jan. 29.

    The arrest was a result of the coordination between multiple agencies, including the Forth Worth Police Department, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – OIG, the Mansfield Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

    The North Texas Fugitive Task Force is sponsored by the U.S. Marshals Service and is comprised of investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Fort Worth Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met seizes one thousand stolen phones in a week

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met’s intensifying clampdown on the £50million-a-year trade in stolen phones has seen 230 people arrested in the space of a week and more than one thousand handsets seized.

    Those responsible for the theft, handling, and onward criminal supply or exportation of smartphones were specifically targeted during a week of co-ordinated activity across London. It built on the work already being ramped up to tackle the scourge of phone thefts, and sets a new standard for how the Met will respond to the issue.

    This includes intensified efforts to tackle phone thefts by increasing patrols and plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, including the West End and Westminster, where nearly 40 per cent of phone thefts occur. At the same time, officers are using phone-tracking data and intelligence to pursue those handling stolen devices.

    Such measures are proving successful and last year four members of a gang were sentenced to a combined 18 years after handling more than 5,000 stolen phones. They were tracked down by local Met officers after numerous victims reported their stolen phones being at the same location.

    Later today (Thursday, 6 February), the Home Secretary will chair a summit with law enforcement bodies and industry focused on tackling smartphone thefts. One of the items that will be raised by the Met’s Deputy Commissioner, Dame Lynne Owens, will be strengthening security on phones so stolen devices cannot be easily resold. The Met wants to work with industry to prevent stolen phones from being able to re-connect to cloud services and make IMEI numbers accessible from the lock screen of all smartphones.

    Commander Owain Richards, who is leading the Met’s response to phone thefts, said:

    “We are seeing phone thefts on an industrial scale, fuelled by criminals making millions by being able to easily sell on stolen devices either here or abroad.

    “By intensifying our efforts we’re catching more perpetrators and protecting people from having their phone stolen in the capital. But we need help from partners and industry to do more. That is why we’re working with other agencies and government to tackle the organised criminality driving this trade and calling on tech companies to make stolen phones unusable.”

    Kaya Comer-Schwartz, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said:

    “The Met is spearheading targeted police work to prevent and tackle mobile phone theft in our communities. Thanks to the hard work of officers and intervention work led by London’s Violence Reduction Unit, personal robbery is down 13 per cent in the capital compared to the same period last year. We continue to support the Met from City Hall with additional funding for neighbourhood policing.

    “But there is more to do. As the criminal demand for high-value mobile phones continues to grow globally, the Mayor and I are clear that companies must go further and faster to make it harder for stolen phones to be sold on, repurposed and re-used illegally. We’ll continue to work with leading mobile phone companies, the Home Secretary and Met leaders to find innovative solutions to end the scourge of mobile phone crime.”

    Increased patrols in Westminster saw 17 arrests for robbery and theft, following 42 Stop and Searches linked to the Met’s intensive activity. In Hackney and Haringey, officers made 15 arrests linked to the operation, including a 15-year-old boy on an illegal electric bike who was found with £1,000 in cash and a large knife.

    The success in tackling phone thefts comes after the Met moved out of special measures last month, following major improvements in many areas of service to London. These include responding more quickly to emergencies and strengthening neighbourhood policing to better respond to communities’ concerns, including tackling theft and robberies.

    The Met is urging anyone who has lost or had stolen a phone to use the national mobile phone register so recovered handsets can be restored, via The Police National Mobile Property Register – NMPR.

    Phone users should take simple steps to further protect themselves from fraud, by ensuring they have a strong password, two-factor authentication and turning off message previews so thieves cannot see any messages about reset or log-in codes when phones are locked. They should also write down and safely store their IMEI number.

    Inspectorate recognises progress on Met’s mission to deliver for London

    Improvements made by the Met which were recognised by inspectors as it came out of special measures, include:

    We are responding more quickly to emergencies. Last year our dedicated staff and officers in MetCC responded to 4,660,891 contacts, of which 2,394,416 were 999 calls, 1,279,552 were 101 calls and 988,923 were digital contacts. The per cent of 999 calls answered within 10 seconds for 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 was 86.2 per cent compared to 77.6 per cent the previous calendar year – with January 2024 reaching 90.9 per cent.

    We have trained 8000 officers in the identification of child exploitation, launched a new Children’s Strategy and significantly increased the number of officers in our child exploitation teams.

    We have put hundreds more officers in our domestic assault and rape and sexual offence teams, doubled the number of charges for rape and sexual offences and tripled the numbers in our nationally recognised Stalking Threat Assessment Centre.

    Our new neighbourhood policing model has been bolstered by an additional 500 staff ranging from Superintendent to PCSO, working closer than ever with communities to understand their concerns.

    The full focus of the entire organisation remains on delivering the commitments made to London – More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Miami Murder Suspect Attempts to Flee, Captured in Colorado Springs

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Colorado Springs, CO – The U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) along with the Fountain Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and Colorado Springs Police Department located and arrested a Florida homicide suspect Tuesday evening in Colorado Springs.

    De Sean Phang, 28, is wanted by the Miramar (FL) Police Department on a felony arrest warrant for second degree murder with a firearm in connection with an incident in early 2023 in Miramar, Florida that left one man dead. A warrant for Phang’s arrest in that case was issued on Jan. 17. 

    Task Force Officers from the Miramar P.D. assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s Florida-Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force – Ft. Lauderdale division recently developed information indicating Phang had fled Florida and was possibly hiding in Colorado. On Feb. 3, that information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force in Colorado Springs who then picked up the investigation. COVOTF investigators learned Phang was moving between Colorado Springs and the south Denver metro to include the Englewood and Highlands Ranch areas. He was travelling in a rental car which was located by the COVOTF on Feb 4 near C-470 and S. Quebec St, before moving back south to Colorado Springs.

    COVOTF Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers from the Fountain Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and Colorado Dept. of Corrections then contacted both the Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. As CSPD officers approached to make contact, the vehicle Phang was traveling in fled the area at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was followed until it eventually stopped in the parking lot of the Big R store located at 165 Fontaine Blvd in Colorado Springs. All occupants of the vehicle, including Phang, attempted to flee on foot, but were quickly apprehended.

    Phang was transported to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center where he was booked on the outstanding homicide warrant from Florida. He is currently awaiting extradition. Please direct any inquiries about the underlying case to the Miramar (FL) Police Department.

    The success of this arrest represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Marshals Florida-Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force – Ft. Lauderdale, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, Miramar Police Department, Fountain Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Englewood Police Department, and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. 

    The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country.  Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 58 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. 

    Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service directly and anonymously by using the USMS Tips app. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on X (previously Twitter): @USMSDenver.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Violent Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio today to 120 months in prison and a $2,000 fine for one count of felon in possession of firearm ammunition.

    According to court documents, Mark Ivy, 38, was arrested by San Antonio Police officers in San Antonio Dec. 20, 2019 for an outstanding warrant. Ivy was sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle in retail parking lot with a loaded 9mm ghost gun. Ivy had been previously convicted in Del Rio on May 13, 2010 for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and interstate communications with intent to extort. He was then sentenced to 48 months imprisonment and therefore unable to lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.

    Following his 2019 arrest, Ivy was transferred into federal custody Oct. 9, 2020. He pleaded guilty to the charge in the indictment on Oct. 25, 2021.

    “My office takes felons in possession of firearms and ammunition very seriously, and when the felon has a violent criminal history like that of this defendant, we argue for a sentence which reflects the seriousness of the conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I appreciate the investigative skill and expertise of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, all of which provide immense value in these cases.”

    “The FBI is dedicated to ensuring our citizens are safe in their communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “Ivy was aware that he was not allowed to own a firearm or ammunition due to his past actions, but he made the choice to keep a gun on his person while fleeing from the scene of a violent homicide. We want to thank our partners at San Antonio Police Department, who continue to work with us to make our community safer.”

    The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the San Antonio Police Department, Maverick County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holly Pavlinski and Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas man arrested for possessing child pornography while working as school bus driver in Fairbanks

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The FBI is seeking additional information.

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Texas man was arrested early this week on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of child pornography while temporarily working in Fairbanks.

    According to court documents, in December 2024, the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) received information that a USB drive found in the business center of a Fairbanks hotel allegedly contained child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).

    FPD provided the USB drive to the FBI Anchorage Field Office to process for forensic review. On Jan. 30, 2025, federal agents successfully imaged and extracted the USB drive and found information linking it to Scott O’Toole, 60, of Joshua, Texas. Agents also found images on the drive allegedly depicting child sexual abuse. Within 24 hours of the FBI’s review of the USB drive, law enforcement identified and located O’Toole in Texas, and arrested him shortly thereafter.

    Court documents further allege that federal agents learned O’Toole was on Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) to Fairbanks as a school bus driver between November and December 2024, and that he stayed at the hotel where the USB drive was found. Shortly after the USB drive was discovered, O’Toole returned to Texas.

    O’Toole is currently charged with one count of possession of child pornography in the District of Alaska. If convicted, O’Toole faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Vogel of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from FPD and the Texas State Troopers. If anyone has information concerning O’Toole’s alleged actions in Alaska, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska thanks their colleagues in the Eastern District of Texas for their coordination on this case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Milwaukee Rape Suspect

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Nashville, TN – A U.S. Marshals task force in Tennessee, working a collateral lead from the U.S. Marshals Service in Wisconsin, today arrested in Nashville a man wanted in Milwaukee for sex crimes against children.

    Yi Leon Harris, 40, was charged with two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child, and a warrant for his arrest was issued in Milwaukee Circuit Court on Jan. 29.

    On Jan. 31, the Milwaukee Police Department requested the assistance of the U. S. Marshals Service Eastern Wisconsin Violent Offender Task Force with locating and apprehending Harris.

    Upon developing information that Harris was residing in the Nashville area, the Eastern Wisconsin Task Force requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Middle Tennessee Fugitive Task Force.

    The Middle Tennessee Task Force located Harris at a residence on Brooksboro Terrace in Nashville. Harris was arrested without incident and taken to the Davidson County Detention Center where he was booked as a fugitive from justice and will await extradition to Wisconsin.

    The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to protecting communities by apprehending dangerous fugitives.

    The U.S. Marshals Middle Tennessee Task Force is a multi-agency task force that serves the Middle District of Tennessee. Its membership is comprised of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Putnam, Rutherford, and Sumner County Sheriff’s Deputies, Metro Nashville Police Officers, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mongolian Minister of Defense visits U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    AIEA, Hawaii  –  

    U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosts Mongolian Minister of Defense Sandag Byambatsogt at USINDOPACOM headquarters on Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii, Feb. 4, 2025.

    Topics of discussion included defense ties, advancing shared interests and cooperation, military modernization, and expansion of peacekeeping operations.

    The U.S. and Mongolia upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2019, and this year marks 38 years of the U.S.-Mongolian relationship rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

    USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Employer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – The former finance director of a Florida-based company pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $5.7 million from his employer.

    Paul Schnitzer, 51, of Clermont, Fla., pleaded guilty to wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2025. Schnitzer was first charged in May 2024, indicted by a grand jury in June 2024, and detained in October 2024 after violating his conditions of pretrial release.

    Between January 2022 and May 2024, Schnitzer made more than 100 transfers out of his employer’s operating bank account into an investment account he controlled, disguised as “equity distributions.” To hide these transfers, Schnitzer falsified financial reports to the Massachusetts-based investment firm that owned the company. Schnitzer also secretly used a line of credit to replenish the balance in the company’s operating account after he had stolen from it.

    The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the loss to the victim. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Provo Man Accused of Attempting to Receive Carfentanil for Distribution in Utah is Detained

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah County man was ordered to detention in federal court today after he was indicted by a federal grand jury last week and charged with a federal drug crime for allegedly attempting to have carfentanil shipped to Utah for distribution.

    Carfentanil is most commonly used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, carfentanil is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times more potent than heroin.

    According to court documents, Clint James Pendleton, 29, of Provo, Utah, attempted to receive a package containing approximately 20 grams of carfentanil on January 22, 2025. The package was destined for an address in Payson, Utah, but was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Los Angeles International Airport in California. The package was opened and the suspected carfentanil was tested and presumptively identified as carfentanil and weighed approximately 20 grams. Subsequently, the package was tracked to Pendleton who had signed up to receive tracking updates on the package. Additionally, law enforcement discovered Pendleton allegedly had a history of his criminal activity written in a notebook that included amounts of controlled substances purchased, prices, and tracking numbers, including for carfentanil. The DEA has identified carfentanil as “crazy dangerous” and a serious growing concern as it is becoming more prevalent in our communities.

    Pendleton is charged with attempted possession of carfentanil with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment was February 5, 2025, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

    United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force (UCMC).

    Special Assistant United States Attorney Pete Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four sentenced in conspiracy using victim’s Social Security numbers to steal funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CORPUS CHRISTI – A 41-year-old Newark man has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identify theft, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Cory Scott Becker pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now imposed a 36-month-term of imprisonment for Becker. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of his and others’ roles and the scheme to steal funds. 

    Christopher Carr, 37, Corpus Christi, previously received 12 months and a day in prison, while Joseph Aguilar, 37, Corpus Christi, and Emmett Jimenez, 45, Yoakum, received 12 and 18 months, respectively.

    The investigation began after a complainant reported $30,000 was taken out of her account at a credit union in Corpus Christi. The bank’s risk management team discovered that from Feb. 16, 2022, until approximately March 8, 2022, 44 unauthorized transactions occurred from approximately 18 accounts. 

    Law enforcement interviewed account owners and verified the unauthorized withdrawals. The investigation revealed they were made through an interactive teller machine which allows fund withdrawals using a holder’s Social Security and bank account numbers.

    Authorities subsequently discovered Becker, Carr, Aguilar and Jimenez conspired to use the numbers and accounts to illegally withdraw funds from credit union account holders. 

    Becker was permitted to remain on bond pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of deadly human smuggling ring sent to prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 28-year-old Roma man has been sentenced for conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens resulting in multiple deaths, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Jose Refugio Torres pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2023, admitting he conspired to transport illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to destinations within the United States.

    U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now imposed a 36-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of human smuggling involving death and admonished Torres that should he ever return to the smuggling business, he could be facing potential life in federal prison.

    “As this case sadly demonstrates, human smuggling is a crime that takes lives and puts the public at risk,” said Ganjei. “Securing the border is the Southern District of Texas’ number one priority, and breaking up these smuggling rings is a key component of that. We will continue to use all available resources to aggressively pursue those that flout our immigration laws and put profit ahead of human lives.”

    “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is dedicated to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of citizens across all communities in the United States,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge, Craig Larrabee. “We will remain focused on investigating and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that jeopardize the well-being of individuals.”

    Jose Refugio Torres was involved in the attempted smuggling of illegal aliens in March 2019 by motor vehicle from the Rio Grande Valley to destinations within the United States. During this failed attempt in Duval County, a vehicle rolled over and caused the deaths of four people with serious injuries to six others.

    The victims included citizens of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador as well as a 17-year-old boy from Ecuador.

    Torres was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol; Coast Guard; Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations; police departments in Port Mansfield and South Padre Island; Texas Rangers; Texas Game Wardens; sheriff’s offices in Kenedy, Duval and Willacy Counties; and the Willacy County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose E. Arreola Jr. and Jose Esquivel Jr. prosecuted the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: 5 Arrested in Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Fraudulent Withdrawal of Benefits Designated for Low-Income Families

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A multi-agency law enforcement operation has resulted in the arrest of five illegal aliens who allegedly used information from “skimmed” electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to “clone” counterfeit cards and steal funds that had been disbursed to low-income individuals by the State of California, the Justice Department announced today.

    Three of the defendants have been ordered detained without bond, and two of the five defendants arrested on Sunday are expected to make their initial appearances in United States District Court today.

    During the operation on Sunday, approximately 70 law enforcement officers began monitoring ATM locations across the Los Angeles area to identify individuals who were making multiple cash withdrawals with cards encoded with information that had been stolen from cards used by the California Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits to qualified recipients.

    Authorities made arrests after determining that the suspects making withdrawals at the ATMs were not entitled to access funds that had been deposited into accounts belonging to legitimate EBT beneficiaries.

    “These defendants who are illegally in the United States targeted and stole from some of the poorest members of our community,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “This fraudulent activity has contributed to significant financial losses, undermining an essential lifeline for struggling families. The U.S. Attorney’s office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement counterparts, will continue to root out this criminal conduct and protect our most vulnerable citizens from further exploitation.”

    “This successful operation targeted transnational criminal organizations that have been stealing from our less fortunate neighbors and the taxpayers,” said HSI Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “HSI Los Angeles and our partners will work day and night to ensure that this help continues to be available to those who need it most, and not in the pockets of greedy criminals.”

    Late Monday, federal prosecutors filed three criminal complaints charging the five defendants with the use of unauthorized access devices (the cards with stolen EBT account numbers and PINs used to make the cash withdrawals). The defendants arrested Sunday allegedly made unauthorized withdrawals, obtaining as much as $25,480. The defendants named across three criminal complaints are:

    • Marcel Musat, 53, of Romania, who is charged with one count of use of unauthorized access devices and allegedly had approximately 45 cloned cards on his person when he was arrested. Musat admitted to investigators he had overstayed his visa and therefore is illegally in the United States. At a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Musat was ordered held without bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 11.
    • Ionut Calciu, 31, of Romania, who is charged with one count of use of unauthorized access devices and allegedly possessed 10 counterfeit EBT cards when he was arrested. According to court documents, Calciu previously was convicted of aggravated robbery in Romania. Calciu, who is an illegal alien, is scheduled to appear in court today.
    • Florian Serban, 51, of Romania, who is charged with one count of use of unauthorized access devices and he allegedly possessed 58 re-encoded California EBT cards. Serban is due to appear in court today.
    • Wesley David Adrian Dimoua-Moua, 36, of France, who is charged with one count of use of unauthorized devices and allegedly had 11 counterfeit EBT cards when he was arrested. Dimoua-Moua is a visa overstay illegally present in the United States. At a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Dimoua-Moua was ordered held without bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 24.
    • Hichem Mohamed El Mabrouk, 35, of France, who is charged with one count of use of unauthorized access devices and allegedly was in possession of 37 re-encoded California EBT cards when he was arrested. At a hearing Tuesday afternoon, El Mabrouk was ordered held without bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 11.

    DSS detected more than $126.8 million stolen from victim EBT cards in 2024, according to court documents. This fraud has targeted CalWORKs and CalFresh (previously known as “food stamps”), both of which are intended to help low-income beneficiaries purchase food and provide for basic needs.

    The investigation has revealed that the fraudulent withdrawal of these benefits is done with “cloned” cards, which are debit cards, gift cards or other devices with magnetic strips that have been encoded with information from legitimate EBT cards. Court documents allege that at least some of those involved in the fraudulent withdrawals also possessed “skimming” devices that could be used to record personal identification information from victims.

    Criminal complaints and indictments contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Homeland Security Investigation’s El Camino Real Task Force, which includes special agents with HSI and the United States Secret Service, as well as officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, is conducting the investigations in this matter.

    A number of law enforcement agencies provided significant support during Sunday’s operation, including the California Department of Social Services, the United States Marshals Service, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Hermosa Beach Police Department, the Baldwin Park Police Department, the Culver City Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, the Inglewood Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Diane Roldán, Alexander H. Tran and Sophia Carrillo of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting these cases.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Sentenced To 84 Months In Prison For Conspiring To Engage In Multimillion Dollar Wire Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. 

    Terrell Fuller, 34, of Baldwin, New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to an information charging him with conspiring to commit wire fraud.

    According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

    Fuller and his co-conspirators submitted a fraudulent application to the Small Business Administration, which caused the SBA to provide them with approximately $1,200,000. In addition, Fuller and his co-conspirators opened bank accounts in the names of various entities and individuals, deposited illegally obtained or fraudulent checks into those accounts, and then withdrew and attempted to withdraw money from the accounts. Further, Fuller, using stolen personal identifying information, fraudulently rented locations to live in New York and failed to pay more than $400,000 in rent and fees for those locations. Through the conspiracy, Fuller and his co-conspirators obtained more than $2,000,000 in money and property through their fraudulent actions.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Fuller to 3 years of supervised release and $2,289,816.06 in restitution.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

                                         ###

    Defense counsel: Scott Leemon, New York City, New York

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Distributor of Child Sexual Abuse Material Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – A West Palm Beach federal judge has sentenced 38-year-old Texas man James William Latta to 20 years in prison followed by 25 years supervised release for advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through social media. 

    During the summer of 2024, Latta used a social networking application to communicate with a person he believed was the mother of an eight-year-old child. Latta sent sexually explicit videos of himself during the exchanges and asked about sex between the mother and child. Latta also created and operated chat rooms on the social networking application through which he distributed CSAM. In one chatroom – with dozens of members – Latta distributed CSAM more than 200 times over two months, posting a hyperlink to a website with more than 3,000 images and videos of CSAM. Latta was identified and arrested in Texas. After his arrest, he was transferred to the Southern District of Florida, where he pled guilty.

    In addition to imposing prison and supervised release terms, District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks ordered Latta to register as a sex offender. A hearing will be scheduled to determine the amount of restitution Latta must pay his victims. 

    U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of HSI Miami made the announcement.

    HSI West Palm Beach investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting it. 

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/project-safe-childhood.

    Anyone with information regarding child sexual exploitation and abuse is encouraged to call (877) 4-HSI-TIP [(877) 447-4847].

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80115.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury convicts a man of possessing 80 grams of meth for distribution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – On Jan. 28, a federal jury found a Jensen Beach man guilty of possession with intent to distribute meth.

    On June 14, 2023, law enforcement officers stopped Otis Furman Crabbe, III, 54, of Jensen Beach, Fla., because of the dark window tinting of his white Mercedes Benz sedan, while he was driving in downtown Stuart, Fla. Crabbe told the officers that he was partially blind and that he needed the dark tinting due to light sensitivity. The law enforcement officers conducted a canine inspection of Crabbe’s vehicle and discovered a suitcase in his trunk containing approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine.

    A sentencing hearing is scheduled on April 17 at 11:30 a.m. Crabbe faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division and Sheriff John Budensiek, of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), made the announcement.

    The HSI Fort Pierce Field Office and MCSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Breezye Telfair prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-14037.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Steele County Man Sentenced to Over 17 Years for International Sexual Exploitation of Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Blooming Prairie man has been sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, beginning in April 2022, Steven John Sokel, 61, began communicating over the internet with the mother of a pre-pubescent minor victim in Thailand. On September 1, 2022, Sokel traveled to Thailand and stayed with the victim and the mother for almost a full month. During his time abroad, Sokel produced images of the minor victim engaging in sexually explicit activity.

    According to court documents, on September 29, 2022, Sokel left Thailand and had a layover in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi airport has a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance facility for passengers flying to the United States. After finding items like sexual pleasure devices, handcuffs, and condoms in Sokel’s luggage, CBP officers conducted a search and found the child sexual abuse material on Sokel’s password-protected laptop.

    Sokel was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric T. Tostrud on one count of sexual exploitation of children.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Guilty Plea in Domestic Assault Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man pleaded guilty to assault after admitting to attacking the victim during a domestic dispute.

    According to court documents, Orlyn Vigil, 48, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, admitted that on November 16, 2021, he assaulted Jane Doe during an argument. Vigil stated that he became upset and struck Jane Doe, placed his hands around her neck, and threw her into trash cans, causing her to strike her head on the bar of the trash can holder. When Jane Doe attempted to go outside to call the police, Vigil pushed her to the ground from behind. As Jane Doe walked toward her vehicle, Vigil knocked her to the ground at a slow speed using his vehicle.

    Vigil will remain on condition of release pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Vigil faces up to 10 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

    The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mia Ulibarri-Rubin and Nicholas J. Marshall are prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mehtab Syed Named Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Field Office

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation has named Mehtab Syed as the special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City Field Office. Ms. Syed most recently served as special agent in charge of Cyber and Counterintelligence Division in the Los Angeles Field Office.

    Ms. Syed entered on duty as an FBI special agent in August 2005. She was assigned to the New York Field Office, where she worked counterterrorism investigations and was a member of the crisis negotiation team and the rapid deployment team. 

    In 2008, Ms. Syed deployed to Islamabad, Pakistan, and served as acting assistant legal attaché. She was responsible for conducting extensive coordination between law enforcement, intelligence, and security services of multiple governments. She then returned to the New York Field Office until 2012.

    Ms. Syed was assigned to an 18-month temporary duty assignment (TDY) at the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in 2012. She worked as the program manager for extraterritorial counterterrorism cases in the Pakistan/Afghanistan region. 

    In April 2015, Ms. Syed reported to LEGAT Amman as the assistant legal attaché. Ms. Syed returned to the New York Field Office as a supervisor for the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force (NY JTTF) in 2017. Ms. Syed was promoted to acting assistant special agent in charge of the NY JTTF’s Extraterritorial Branch in 2020.

    In November 2020, Ms. Syed was selected as the assistant special agent in charge of the cyber and counterintelligence branch of the Newark Field Office. In 2022, Ms. Syed was promoted to section chief of China Operations II Branch of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters. In April of 2023, Ms. Syed served as special agent in charge of Cyber and Counterintelligence Division in the Los Angeles Field Office

    Prior to her career as a special agent for the FBI, Ms. Syed served at the Bureau as a contract linguist from 2004-2005. She has also worked as a financial analyst at the corporate office of Cosi, a restaurant chain with locations throughout the U.S. Ms. Syed received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Adelphi University in 2001. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Chief of Naval Operations Hosts Thailand’s Head of Navy for Counterpart Visit

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti hosted Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) for an official counterpart visit, Feb. 3-5. 

    Jirapol’s trip to Washington D.C. was part of a five-day trip to the United States, that also included stops in Annapolis, Md., and Norfolk, Va., where the delegation visited Navy commands and spoke with Navy leaders and Sailors.

    “The U.S. and Thailand have enjoyed 191 years of friendly and diplomatic relations,” said Franchetti. “Thailand’s support to our Navy-Marine Corps team builds our interoperability and strengthens peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific.”

    Jirapol began his trip visiting the U.S. Naval Academy, where he met with Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids and participated in a wreath laying ceremony.

    Franchetti hosted Jirapol for a full-honors welcoming ceremony and an office call, where she discussed the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, highlighting the value of strong cooperation with Allies and partners.

    During their office call, Franchetti and Jirapol discussed the importance of strengthening the RTN, building interoperability and combined participation in exercises such as Cobra Gold and CARAT Thailand (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training).  

    While in Washington D.C., Jirapol also conducted an office call with the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, and Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet, Vice Adm. Craig Clapperton.

    “I greatly thank Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Gen. Eric Smith, and all the senior U.S. Navy officials for their honorable welcome with exceptional hospitality,” said Jirapol. “This is the first time in 13 years since RTN leadership has had an office call with the Chief of Naval Operations. During the visiting, we had in-depth exchange of view to understand each other’s strategic standpoint and to enhance common view on maritime domain awareness for future cooperation, as well as to validate our shared interests and challenges in order to narrow the gap between Bangkok and Washington D.C..”

    He added, “Our invaluable relationship has been mindfully preserved to reach 191 years. Our engagement transmits common intent to prolong and strengthen lasting friendship.”

    Jirapol and the RTN representatives traveled to Norfolk to visit with leadership from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, tour USS New Mexico (SSN 779) and Norfolk’s Submarine Learning Facility. 

    Thailand is a major non-NATO ally, one of five U.S. treaty allies in the Indo-Pacific, and a leader within the Association of Southern Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol Announce Arrest in Smuggling Case Involving Unaccompanied Juveniles

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national faces federal charges after U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested him for allegedly attempting to smuggle two undocumented juveniles through New Mexico.

    According to the complaint, on January 23, 2025, Border Patrol agents encountered Jesus Antonio Rodriguez-Bermudez, a Mexican national who had entered the United States illegally in December 2024, driving on New Mexico State Road 26, a highway that has been exploited by smugglers. After observing suspicious driving behavior, agents conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, agents discovered two unaccompanied juvenile males concealed under a blanket in the back of the vehicle. It was later determined that the two juveniles are brothers, ages 7 and 9.

    When questioned by the agents, Rodriguez-Bermudez allegedly admitted to transporting the juveniles, who were not U.S. citizens, from El Paso, Texas to Albuquerque, New Mexico as part of a smuggling scheme.

    Rodriguez-Bermudez will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Rodriguez-Bermudez faces up to 10 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today.

    The U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ry Ellison is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Sorrento Man Indicted For Circle K Robberies In Lake And Orange Counties

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jose Flores Avila (33, Sorrento) with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Each robbery offense carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The firearm offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years, up to life, in federal prison, which must be served after any prison term imposed for the robberies.

    According to the indictment, Avila robbed a Circle K store in Zellwood, Florida, on May 23, 2024. During the robbery, Avila brandished a firearm and took currency and cigarettes from an employee of the business. Two days later, on May 25, 2024, Avila robbed a second Circle K store in Sorrento, Florida. In that robbery, he again took currency and cigarettes from a store employee.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Violent Illegal Immigrant

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Atlanta, GA – On January 30, 2025, Marcel Pierre Grant, a citizen of Jamaica with a history of violence and illegal immigration, was captured by the United States Marshals Service in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Despite being deported, over many years, Marcel Grant has committed numerous, serious crimes.

    In 2001, Marcel Grant was charged with carrying and possessing a firearm in public. In 2002, he was arrested for armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, bank robbery utilizing a firearm, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and numerous other crimes. In 2003, he was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated bank robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. In 2006, he was arrested as a deportable alien.

    More recently, in 2022, Grant was arrested for illegal re-entry of a previously removed alien. He was also detained for possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine. In 2023, he was again charged with possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

    Despite his long history, in 2024, Grant was released from custody. He remained in the United States. Grant was required to submit to monitoring under the authority of United States Probation. However, Grant failed to follow the guidelines of this monitoring.

    Due to Grant’s failure to comply, the U.S. Marshals became responsible for the case. On January 30, 2025, Grant was arrested without incident. The arrest unit included officers from the U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Georgia and the Southeast Regional Fugitive Taskforce.

    As of today, Grant is being detained and will soon answer for his crimes.

    About Grant’s arrest, United States Marshal Thomas Brown said, “Let the message go out to all criminals, both foreign and domestic. If you do harm to the citizens of the United States, you will not be allowed a moment of peace. You will not find shelter. If you illegally come to our communities to wreak havoc, you will be caught, and you will answer for your crimes.”

    The U.S. Marshals Service is the primary federal agency charged with conducting fugitive investigations throughout the country. The U.S. Marshals Service regularly works in concert with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sex offenders. The U.S. Marshals Service has established task forces throughout the nation, and professional relationships worldwide, to facilitate the apprehension of fugitives.

    If you have further questions about the United States Marshals, please call (703)740-1699. The U.S. Marshals for the Northern District of Georgia can be reached at (404) 331-6833.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Individuals Sentenced for Harboring Aliens Arriving in Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The last of three defendants was sentenced today to prison for harboring aliens that arrived in Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic.

    Together, defendants Katia Janette Nieves, Junior Melo, and Iris J. Nieves-Ríos coordinated the pickup in August 2023 of at least 50 individuals arriving unlawfully via boat on the west side of Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic. Despite knowing that these individuals were aliens not lawfully in the United States, the defendants transported them to a residence in San Juan, Puerto Rico, harbored them, and demanded money from family members in order to release the individuals.

    Junior Melo was sentenced on December 16, 2024, to 72 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Katia Janette Nieves was sentenced on January 15, 2025, to 72 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Iris J. Nieves-Ríos was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora and Assistant U.S. Attorney Linet Suárez prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mt. Pleasant Business Owner Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jonathan Ramaci, 60, of Mt. Pleasant, was sentenced to one and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and filing a false income tax return.

    Evidence presented to the court showed that Ramaci defrauded the Small Business Association in his application and receipt of approximately $214,000 of fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) loans that were authorized pursuant to the CARES Act. Evidence showed that Ramaci submitted fraudulent tax documentation to the SBA and its approved third-party lenders, that were relied on to fund a PPP loan Ramaci received. For the fraudulent EIDL loans, Ramaci falsely represented to the SBA revenue and costs of goods sold for the businesses he was applying for. 

    As for Ramaci’s tax offense, evidence submitted to the court showed that from 2017 to 2021, Ramaci either failed to file and/or filed false income tax returns and owes the IRS $289,531. Specifically, Ramaci was paying for personal expenses from a business he owned and operated, Elements of Genius, headquartered in Charleston. He was also not reporting his income.

    “This defendant’s actions revealed corrupt business practices that cost the taxpayer and the government hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “His deceptive financial scheme warrants this prison sentence and sends the message that such practices will not be tolerated.”

    “IRS Criminal Investigation, along with our law enforcement partners, will vigorously pursue business owners who victimize their investors and violate the public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS-CI. “The defendant used his position of power to defraud not just his own company, but the honest, hardworking Americans who pay their tax obligations.”

    United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Ramaci to 18 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. As part of the judgement, the court ordered Ramaci to pay $538,178.88 in restitution for the offenses of conviction.  The court also ordered Ramaci to pay restitution in the amount of $1,009,684.00 to victims of offenses that the defendant did not plead guilty to, which was agreed to by the parties in the plea agreement.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Midwest City Man Sentenced to Serve 160 Months in Federal Prison for Manufacturing Crack Cocaine and Illegal Firearm Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – ANTONIO LARINGO KNOX, 53, of Midwest City, has been sentenced to serve more than 13 years in federal prison for manufacturing cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, and illegal possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On January 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment against Knox, charging him with manufacturing cocaine base and being a felon in possession of firearms, amongst other charges. On November 7, 2024, following a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted Knox of these two charges. According to evidence presented at trial, on September 12, 2023, Oklahoma City Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Mr. Knox’s home, where they found cocaine base, razor blades, digital scales, ammunition, and firearms. Mr. Knox admitted to manufacturing the cocaine base that was recovered.

    At the sentencing hearing on January 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Knox to serve 160 months in federal prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Friot noted the nature and circumstances of the offense, along with Knox’s criminal history. Public record reflects that Knox’s criminal history includes convictions in Oklahoma County District Court for conspiring to distribute a controlled dangerous substance in case number CF-2004-3693 and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction in case number CF-2006-6617.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and Matthew Anderson prosecuted the case.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stamford Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing 3 Banks in 2020

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANCESCO PENSIERO, also known as Frank Pensiero, 52, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing three Connecticut banks in 2020.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 13, 2020, Pensiero and an associate robbed the Chase Bank located at 2855 Main Street in Stratford.  During the robbery, Pensiero’s associate displayed a handgun on the teller counter and presented the teller with a note that read “this is a robbery give me all your money.”  The teller provided Pensiero’s associate with approximately $1,000 and Pensiero and his associate exited the bank.

    Later on October 13, 2020, Pensiero robbed the People’s United Bank located at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield.  During the robbery, he pulled out a handgun and presented the teller a note that stated “This is a robbery.”  The teller provided Pensiero with $5,458 and Pensiero exited the bank.

    On October 28, 2020, Pensiero and his associate robbed the People’s United Bank located at 95 Main Street in New Canaan.  Pensiero displayed a handgun, provided the teller with a note demanding money, verbally threatened to kill the teller and other employees, and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor.  Pensiero and his associate stole $9,130 during the robbery, and fled from the bank in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.  The following day, the car was set on fire on Green Avenue in New Canaan.

    Pensiero was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2023.  On June 3, 2024, he pleaded guilty to bank robbery.

    Pensiero’s criminal history includes convictions for bank robbery and other offenses.

    Pensiero’s associate was convicted of related state offenses stemming from these robberies.

    This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stratford, Fairfield, and New Canaan Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures 51-Month Sentence in Vehicular Homicide Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Sanostee man was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $8,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter for a fatal drunk-driving crash that occurred on the Navajo Nation.

    According to court documents, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on August 12, 2023, Leonardo Robbie Duncan, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving while intoxicated on Navajo Route 36 near Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, when he crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a vehicle occupied by Jane and John Doe.

    Duncan fled the scene on foot without checking on or assisting the victims. An off-duty Southern Ute Tribal police officer attempted to stop Duncan from leaving but was unsuccessful. John Doe died at the scene; Jane Doe passed away en route to the hospital. Both victims were enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.

    Duncan turned himself in to Navajo Nation Police six hours after the crash. At the time of surrender, his blood-alcohol content was 0.08. At the time of the incident, Duncan was on state probation for Battery on a Household Member and had recently violated this probation with an open-container offense. He also had a prior State conviction for Driving While Intoxicated from 2018.

    Upon his release from prison, Duncan will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations.

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